ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a theoretical consideration of emotions and role-play. In order to understand the way in which emotional development occurs in the child, it is necessary to initially look at the pre-birth experiences. Role-play is considered to be important in the development of the child; through these experiences, they are enabled to learn about themselves and the world around them. The ‘dynamic human life’ begins from the moment of conception, and the capacity to ‘feel’ and respond is known to be present well before birth, with babies aware of the mother’s body rhythms, heartbeat and sounds. A fundamental Vygotskian precept is the social and communal influence on a child’s learning. The baby’s brain and body, though highly dependent on the mother and other adults, accelerate their development, building more brain connections.
